Humidity-regulator.



B. W. COMFORT.

HUMIDITY REGULATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED MAB.14, 190s.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

l1/wanton UNITED sviiiirns 4*Armar Fries.

EDWARD W. COMFORT, 0F PENSAUKEN TOWNSHIP, CAMDEN'COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB T0 WARREN WEBSTER & COMPANY, A COBPQRATION OE NEW JERSEY.

HUMIDITY-REGULATOR.

A Specicationof Letters Patent.

Patented Dec.6, 19110.

`To all 'whom it my concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD. W. COMFORT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pensauken township, county of Camden, State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Humidity-Rego.: lators, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention has reference to humidity regulators, and consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specifica-tion, and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof. I i i T he object of my invention is to provide a suitable construction o f humidity regulator for regulating a valve or controlling device which requires adjustment to corre' spond to varying conditions of humidity of f air or gas, more especially for maintaining the said air or gas at a constant absolute humidity.

More particularly, my object is to provide a suitable humidity regulator adapted for use in connection with air purifying apparatus designed to supply purified air with a given degree of relative humidity to a room or building, and in which connection my improved device is adapted to automatically i'egulatethe operation of the apparatus to correspond to all variations 1n the humidity of the treated air, either before or after it leaves the apparatus, whereby the humidity of the air delivered or to i be delivered to the room or building shall remain practically constant and of that de` gree which has been predetermined by the adjustment of the purifying apparat-us.

My invention consists of two bars or arts of expansible material adapted to jointly ,operate a valve-piece and one of said parts being acted upon by the temperature of the humidiied air, combined with a fluid pressure vent for air or gas which controls the operation of a motor in the purifying or other apparatus, -a tank below the other of the parts of expansible material, andan absorbent pad extending from the tank in contact with. the last mentioned part of expansible material whereby said part may be maintained in a -wet and' cool condition.

My invention also consists ofthev foregoing features when the'two expansible'parts have dillerentcoeilieients of lexpansion and in which the coefficients ofexpansion are such as to cause the control of the fluid pressure vent in substantially the same manner for all corresponding variations in the hygrometriccondition of the air for different temperatures thereof.

My invention further consists in formingthe humidity regulator with one of the expansible parts aforesaidv acting as the carrier of the other of said parts and with an intermediate connection adapted to control the air or gas vent which controls the operation of the motor devices.

My invention alsocoinprehends details of construction which, together with the features above specified, will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is an elevation of a humidity regulator einbodyingmy invention, shown in connection with the fluid pressure. motor of a controlling valve; Fig. 2 is a front. elevation of my improved humidity regulator 'with a portion in section; and Fig. 3 is a vertical section, of the humidity regulator on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

A represents a pipe or passage through which air, gas, steam or other fluid may be caused to pass and which may be necessary for the regulation of the heat, moisture, or other condition of the purifying apparatus, and B is the controlling valve thereof.

C is the motor for operating the valve,

said motor being of any ordinary construc.

tion and usually consisting of a diaphragm moved in one direction by air pressure and in the other direction by a counterweight.

D D isa pipe leading from the source of compressed air orother fluid pressure by which the motor C may be operated.

E is a pressure reducing device, and, as shown in Fig. 2, consists of a contracted passage E and a plug E2, usually made by employing a round wire with one side filed away to leave an exceedingly small aperture. This plug is inclosed by an air-tight cap e. In place of the 4plug E2,'an ordinary needle valve might be employed, but the plug is preferable because once it is made correctly and adjusted, itis not possible for the adjustment to be put out of order by undesirable handling. The pressure in the pipe D between the reducing device E and the motor C is very greatly less than in the pipe D be- *i lng with the compressor or yond the said` reducing device and connectother source of com ressed. air. v f h the humidity regulator embodying my improvements and is connected with the pipe D connecting with the motor C andthe pressure-reducing devicevE and operates as a relief valve to lower or raise the pressure in 4- the motor C as mag' be required to properly operate the valve e Referrin more particularly to Fi s. 2 and 3, a wallA p ate or base l? is provi ed with the various parts making up the humidity re ator-apparatus an for conveniently ho ding themA in position.. l G is a casting of aluminum or other suitable material and is essentially inverted U sha' ed and provided with a central foot .whlch isV secured to the wall plate or base F by a screw G2. The free ends of the part G extend downward, and one of said ends is provided with a centering screwG and the other end supports a detachable plug I carrying a spring hin e J, to which isv attached the controlling va ve lever I, the'spring J being so connectedl with the lever that it normally causes its valve-piece i to be held slightl away from the vent nozzle K, which is pre erably formed on the part G. This vent K communicates with an upwardly -extendin tubular part K which maybe detachab y secured to the ipe D by means of a coupling L. It is evi ent that this nozzle K may7 be su ported in any -suitable manner, so long as tllie lever I coperates with it.

Arranged -below the horlzontal portion of the part G, is a tubular'expansible part H which is centered at one endl on the screw G', and at the other end upon the lever I between the hinge J which constitutes its ivot or fulcrum) an the valve nozzle K.

or convenience, the connection between the l tubular expansible. part H and the lever I may be a pin W which has a` collar to limit its outward movement and which is normally heldin fixed position b a spring R. The pin W and the spring are conveniently carried in a bushing -L whichl is screwed'into y position upon the end 01': the tubular expansible part H. Normally the parts are in the condition shown in Fig. 2, and the pin W may be considered as immovable upon the part H. The object of the spring actuating pin W is to permit the expansion of the part H after the lever I is seated ositively uponV the nozzle K.

When the va ve-piece z' is notl in contact with the nozzle K, the pin W may be considered as solid on the expansible tubular part. H, but once it seats, then any further expansion of the tube H allows the bushing L to work upon thev pin and compress,fto moreor less extent, the spring R. In this manner, no

arts are straine 1s preferably made of hard rubber, whereas or broken. The part H chan es of temperature occur,.they con- `joint y cause an operation of the lever I, and hence of the valve-piece z" with respectI to the nozzle'K.

N is a vessel screwedto'the plate or base F and ada ted to contain Water which may be supplie by the pipe O.

M is a pad ofabsorbent material such as felt' or textile material and extends over the part is` preferably made ofl aluminum -h the expansible part'I-I with the ends dippxed down into the Water in the vessel N, so t the tube H is lkept in a wet condition, so as to correspond to the wet bulb of a Masonl hygrometer, whereas the aluminum casting to maintain a constant absolute humidity, it

has been found that for practical purposes,

the coecient of expansion of the art G should be 1 as compared with 2% or the coeiiicient of expanslon of the hard rubber i tube H, and this is substantially fulfilled by makin the part G of aluminum;

If t e apparatus is to be employed for maintaining a constant relative humidity, the same general principles are embodied,

only that 1n this case the relative expansions of the dry and wet elements G and Hy should be in proportions of `1 to l. The general proportions just mentioned may be taken as considering the dry and wet elements'as being of approximately the same length, but as it is not easy to arrange the dry'element of a compositlon of the exact desired coeicient of expansion, relative to the coellicient of ex -anslon of `the wet element, I have foun it more desirable to secure the pro er relation between theexpansibility of t e two elements by properly proportioning their length andby employlng a construction in which the dry elementl is to be aluminum and'then reducing the length of the wet hard rubber element slig tly with respect to the length of the dry element, the proper proportion may be secured which will give the exact relative actions between the two expansible elements .to cause the valve lever to respond for any change inthe relative humidity 'over a large range of varyin temperatures andfthus maintain the re ative humidity substantially constant. In View of th1s properly pro ortionintg the parts to cor-respond to the coe cients o expansion of the materials em- .'ployed, I do not` limit myself. to any particular materials or any particular pro- -portions of the arts, as -'these maybe varied so long as t eyv coperatein operating from the pipe D, I prefer that this nozzle K shall be provided with a chamber K2 which may be filled with cotton or other porous material which will catch any particles of dirt and yet will not materially obstruct the escape of air through the vent nozzle when the valve-piece i leaves said vent nozzle open.

It will be readily understood that, if the valve-piece z' closes the vent nozzle K, the pressure in .the motor device will gradually increase until it is sutlicient to operate the valve B. The valve z' and vent nozzle K therefore act as a relief valve device for reducing the pressure in the pipe D between the pressure reducing device E and the motor, and that this may be accomplished by the mechanism shown, the orifice of the nozzle K should be equal to or greater in area than the contracted orifice E in the reducing device through which the air passes.

In adjusting the humidity regulator, the screw G is adjusted until the valve-piece z' almost seats upon the valve, after which any variation in the temperature land hygrometric condition of the air, such as would be due to the lowering of the percentage of moisture therein, would cause the contraction of the Vtwo elements G and H, but with a greater contraction of the element H, the result of which is to removethe valve-piece z' from the vent nozzle K, thereby reducing the pressure in the pipe D and allowing the operation of the motor C. If this motor C isvin properly organized apparatus, itmay cause a restorationy of the proper hygrometric condition of the atmosphere surrounding the humidity regulator, in which case the vent nozzle K will once more be closed, and the motor caused to operate to return to its` normal position, namely, to prevent increase in the humidity. The difference in the expansion and contraction of the elements G and H is that which is called into play to control the valve lever I, and these varying conditions are caused by. the conditions of humidity surrounding the humidity regulator; and whenever such conditions vary the humidity regulator automatically responds to controlfthe devices which restore the hygrometric v condition of the latmosphere surrounding the humidity regulator predetermined upon. l

The humidity regulator maybe used simply as a thermostat if so desired, ViiE the condition of temperature is the important Ione; but the device is especially designed as ahumidity regulator, and in practice may be located either in the purifier so as to be acted upon by the air after leaving the eliminator or by the air in the room or building-after being delivered from the purifier, either with or without reheating. Whatever its location may be, the proper adjustment should be made to suit the conditions prevailing in the machine with respect to those required to be maintained.

While I have shown my invention in the form which I have found most excellently 'adapted for commercial use, the details thereof may be modified withoutpdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a humidity regulator, the combination of two expansible elements having different coelicients of expansion, a lever havy .ing a connection with each ofthe expansible elements so as to be oscillated by the joint action of said elements when expanded unequally, means to maintain one of the elements in a wet condition, and valve devices controlled by the lever.

2. In a humidity regulator, the combination of two long expansible elements having different coefficients of expansion connected together at one end, a lever having a connection with the free ends of each of the expansible elements so as to.be oscillated by the joint action of said elements when expanded unequally under variations of the hygrometric condition of the surrounding atmospherre, means to maintain one of the elements in a wet condition, and valve devices controlled by the lever.

3. In a humidity regulator, the combination of two expansible elements'having different coeicients of expansion, a lever having a connection with each of the expansible elements so as to be oscillated byy the joint action of said elements when expandedunequally, means to maintain one of the elements in a wet condition, valve devices controlled by the lever, a motor controlled means for varying the atmospheric conditions, a pipe for supplying compressed air or gas to the motor and having a connection with the valve devices, and means for restricting the rapidity of liow of the air or gas to the motor and valve devices.

4.` In a humidity regulator, the combination of a metal expansible element supported so as to freely expand in theA direction of its length, a lever to control the operationof a motor device pivoted at one end to one end of the metal expansible element, a nonmetallic expan'sible element having one end connected with the other end of the metal expansible element and having its other end jointed to the lever and also having-adifferent coeilicient of-ex ausion from that of the metal expansible ever, and means for keeping onet of .the expansible 'elements wet.

5. In a humidity regulator, the combination of-'a metal expansible element support.

. ed so as to freely expand in the direction of its'length, a lever to control the operation of am'otor device pivoted at one end toone' end ofthe metal expansible element, a nonmetallic expansiblefelement having one end connected with the ,other'end of the metal ex ansible element and having its other end jointed to the lever and also having a`d1f- 1 A Aferent coeiiicient of ex ansion from that of liever, and means for' keeping the non-metallic expansible element p wet the metal expansible In a humidity regulator, the combination of a metal expansible element supported so as to freely expand in thedirection of its length, a lever tocontrol the operation of a motor device pivoted at one end to one end of the metal expansible element, a non-mements so as to permit adjustment of the lever, and means for keeping one of the'expansible elements wet. p

7. In a humidity regulator, the combination of a metal expansible element support ed so as to `freely expand in the direction vof its length, a lever to control the operation of a motor device pivoted at one end to one end of the metal expansible element, a non-metallic expansible element having one end connected with the other end of the metal ex ansible element and having its other end jointed to the lever by means of a yielding connection and also having a different coeiiicient of expansion from that of the metal expansible lever, and -means for keepin one of the expansible elements wet.

8. In a humidity regulator, the combination'of a metal expansible elementsupported so as to freely expand in the direction of its length, a lever to control the operation of a motor device pivoted at one end to one end of the metal expansible element, a nonmetallic expansible element having one end connected with the other end ofthe metal expansible element and having its other end jointed to the lever by means of a yielding connection consisting of a spring actuated pin and also havin a diiierent coeilicient of expansion from t at of the metal expansible lever, and means for keeping one of the expansible elements wet;

9. In a humidity regulator, the combination of an inverted U 'shaped metallic ex- .pansion than thef` rlst-inii.tioned element havinglfone'v fend inoperative con- I pansib e .bodies bein pansible element I having A.an lair vent i vided with 'a tubular extensiou-.forrconneci tion with anfa'ir pipe, alevefr for controlling. said air vent havin l tion with one'end vo` `the shaped metallic expansible element, a' second expansible, .element having a diiferentii'gfoeiiicient ,of exansible nection with t edev'erl to move it and its other end iii connection withthe other end of the U sha ed metallicexpansible element,

-and means o keeping one of said-,elements 'a humidity." regulator, the eomhina' "tion of aninverted Ushaped metallic expansible element having an air vent provided 'with a tubular extension for connection with an air plipe, a lever for controlling said air vent avingan operative connection with one end of the U shaped metallic ex ansible element, to normally hold it away rom the fvent, a second expansible element having a different coefficient of expansion than thel first mentioned expansible element having one end in operative connection with the lever to move it to close the vent and its other end in adjustable connection with the other end ofthe U shaped"metallicexpansi A ble element,-and `means for keeping one of said elements wet. t

'111. Means for controlling the operation of a motor device by the variations of the conditions, of the air consisting of a valve device, and two expansible bodies having different coefficients of expansion for maintaining the valve device in normal position for a -iven condition of air one of said ex- I maintained in a dry condition and the ot er in a `wet condition.

12. Means for controlling the operation ofl fan loperative connecl' 13. Means for controlling the operationof a motor device by the variations of the conditions of the air consisting of a valve device, two expansible bodies forl maintaining the valve device in normal position for a given condition of air one of said expansible bodies being maintained in a dry condition and the other in a wet condition, and means for adjusting said expansible bodies to'suit diierent normal conditions of the air consisting of a pivot screw carried byV one of the expansible bodies and upon which the other expansible body is pivoted.-

14. A motor device combined with means for controlling the opera-tion of the motor device by the variations of the conditions of the air consisting of a valve device to control the motor, two expansible bodies having different coeiiicients of expansioncoperating for maintaining the valve device in normal position yfor a given condition of air one of said expansible bodies being maintained in a dry and the' other in a Wet condition by Water supplied to it by a pad and tank, a water tank adjacent to the Wet expansible body, and awetpad in contact with said Wet expansible body and extending into the tank. 15. Means for controlling the operation of a motor device by the variations of the conditions of the air consisting of a controlling device for the motor device, a dry expansible body havin one coeiicient of ex ansion, a wetexpansl le body having a di erent coecient of expansion than that of the dry .eXpansible body, and means for operating the controlling device in operative connecltJiorWitli the free ends of both expansible o les.

16. Means for controlling the operation of amotor device by the variations of the conditions of the air consisting of a controlling device ,for the motor device, a dry expansible body, a Wet expansible body, and means for operating the controlling. device in operative spring connection with the free ends of both expansible bodies: l

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto setmy hand.

EDWARD 7. COMFORT. Witnesses: r JACOB M. HALL, WMZ. R. BROEMER. 

